Truss



(No Modl.)

M. R. FLETCHER.

TRUSS.

No. 454,339. Patented June 16, 1891.

Wm M NTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOORE RUSSELL FLETCHER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,339, dated June 16,1891.

Application filed April 15, 1889. Serial No. 307,359. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MOORE RUSSELL FLETCHER, doctor in medicine, acitizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in the Surgeons Truss for the Treatment and Radical Cure ofHernia or Rupture; and I do hereby declare that the same are fullydescribed in the following specification and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a truss adapted by variousmechanical adjustments to give more perfect support to any particularpart of the lower abdomen and to any peculiar conformation of the bodyof the wearer.

My truss is of novel construction in respect to the features hereinshown and described, and particularly referred to in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved trusscomplete. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the pad and partsadjacent thereto. Figs. 3 and 4 are details showing two positions of thejointed parts by which the truss is adapted for use either right side orleft side. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 represent the wedge-shaped ratchet andwashers hereinafter described. Figs. 8 and 9 represent in longitudinaland transverse section a single substitute for the two wedge-shapedwashers.

The body or main spring A of the truss is of spring-steel covered withleather or other suitable material B, which terminates in a strapsuitably perforated near each end to engage with a stud O on themetallic part of the truss, so as to secure the same in proper posi'tion around the body of the wearer.

E is an extension of the body A, pivoted to such body on a screw orrivet D and furnished with a protruding stud e, fixed in positionopposite said screw or rivet and adapted to enter either of threecorresponding perforations a at the end of the main spring. By thisconstruction the extension E, with the pad and intermediate parts, maybe deflected laterally, either to right or left, and the truss thereofmade either right hand or left hand by causing the stud e to enter theperforation (tat either edge of said spring. If the central perforationis engaged, the extension is held in a straight course, the screw 1) ineither case holding the parts A and E in close surface contact. Figs. 3and 4 will make clear this lateral deflection.

F is a slide connected to the extension E by means of the screw G andthreaded stud O or by two ordinary suitable screws passing, through theelongated slot II in the extension, so that the slide may be extended orcontracted within the limits of the slot and held fast in the positiondesired.

The pad J is connected to the end of the slideF by means of an arm K,termed the pad-rider, which is pivoted to said slide by the screw L,which also passes through a wedge-shaped ratchet or cogged wheel M,interposed between said slide and arm. The cogged teeth or equivalentrecesses in the wheel M extend around half its periphery, and a stud N,Figs. 1, 2, or 3, protruding from the slide, enters either of therecesses and fixes the position of such wheel so that its outer faceshall slope in the direction desired. The arm or pad-rider K fits downupon such outer face and is secured to said wheel M by a rivet O,entering a hole m therein, so that the position of the arm and pad iscontrolled by the wheel M and the stud N, and may be adjusted byloosening the pivot-screw L and causing the stud N to enter anotherrecess.

The wedge form of the wheel M gives an inward and upward pressure to thepad when said wheel is held with its thin edge downward by theprotruding stud N, since the arm K, which carries the pad, fits downclosely against the inclined outer face of such wheel. This devicetherefore serves a purpose beyond thatof a mere joint or pivot, theplane of pressure being capable of adjustment at will as well as theradial direction of the arm. The position of the pad is furtheradjustable in two respects with relation to the arm K, on which it ismounted. The back platej of the pad has a threaded perforation toreceive the screw P and equidistant therefrom a series of likeperforations q, either of which may receive the screw Q, those twoscrews thus holding the oval or kidney-shaped pad to the arm K with itsmajor axis more or less nearly in line with the arm. Adouble-wedge-shaped I block or washer or two independent wedgeshapedWashers R of different thicknesses may surround the screws 1? Q and beinterposed between the arm K and the back plate 3' of the pad, so as tovary at will the position of the pad on the arm.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a truss, the body or main spring A, theextension E, adapted to be deflected to right or left and held in afixed position, and the slide F, connected to said extension by suitablefastenings, in combination With the pad and its supporting-arm pivotedon said slide and adapted to be fixed in position radially from saidpoint, substantially as set forth.

2. In a truss, the body or main spring A,

the extension E, adapted to be deflected to right or left and held fast,and the slide F, secured to said extension by set-screws, in combinationwith the pad J and its supporting'arm K, pivoted on said slide, and withthe wedge-formed recessed Wheel M and engaging-stud N interposed betweensaid slide and arm, substantially as set forth.

3. In a truss, the body A, extension E, slide F, arm K, and pad J, incombination with the Wedge-formed wheel M and the double Wedge 0rWashers R, adapted to adjust the plane of pressure of the pad,substantially as set forth.

MOORE RUSSELL FLETCHER.

' WVitnesses: 1

WILLIAM H. GoLooRD, AMBROSE EASTMAN.

